Neuralgia is the feeling of pain in the area of skin supplied by a nerve. The causes of neuralgia are varied and include circulatory disturbance, inflammation, infection, diabetes and other metabolic disorders, and compression e.g. tumours or blood vessels. In many cases the cause is unknown or unidentifiable.

Neuralgias can affect different sensory nerves in the body. Trigeminal neuralgia is the most common form of neuralgia. It causes sudden short episodes of severe facial pain, sometimes sufficient to evoke spasm of facial muscles. Trigeminal neuralgia may sometimes be associated with other diseases e.g. diabetes and multiple sclerosis, but most often the cause is not known.

Post-herpetic neuralgia is another common neuralgia. It follows shingles infection. Pain persists after the initial rash has settled and occurs along the distribution of the rash. It is constant, and can be severe.

Neuralgic pain generally responds very well to acupuncture therapy. The response is gradual but progressive and in most instances patients will be able to reduce or cease analgesic medications. Outcomes are influenced by duration of symptoms, and resolution of the problem is more likely if symptoms are treated earlier rather than later. Post-herpetic neuralgias are best treated as soon as the diagnosis is made. Symptom-relief is rapid and it facilitates early recovery and minimises progression of the disease. Facial neuralgias with likewise respond more effectively if therapy is commenced soon after onset of symptoms.